MILLION DOLLAR BABY

4/2/13Main cast: Hillary Swank,Morgan Freeman,Clint Eastwood Directed and Produced by Clint EastwoodScreenplay writer by Paul Haggis AWARDS: won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture.*Best Actress (Swank) ,Best Supporting role (freeman)*Best adapted Screenplay (Haggis),Best Editing (Cox)*Best Director(Eastwood)===============PLOT (source:Wikipedia) Margaret "Maggie" Fitzgerald, a waitress from a Missouri town in the Ozarks, shows up in the Hit Pit, a run-down Los Angeles gym which is owned and operated by Frankie Dunn, a brilliant but only marginally successful boxing trainer. Maggie asks Dunn to train her, but he angrily responds that he "doesn't train girls." Maggie attempts to win Frankie over by working out tirelessly each day in his gym, even when others discourage her. Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris, Frankie's friend and employee, encourages and helps her all he can. "Scrap" also narrates the story. Frankie's prize prospect, "Big" Willie Little, signs with successful manager Mickey Mack after becoming impatient with Dunn's rejecting offers for a championship bout. With prodding from Scrap and impressed with her persistence, Frankie reluctantly agrees to train Maggie. He warns her that he will teach her only the basics and then find her a manager. His most important advice is that she should protect herself in the ring at all times. Before her first fight, Frankie leaves Maggie with another manager, much to her dismay, but rejoins her in the middle of the bout, and coaches her to victory. Maggie makes him promise not to abandon her again. Maggie turns out to be a natural. She fights her way up in the women's welterweight boxing division, winning many of her bouts with first-round knockouts. Estranged from his own daughter who returns his letters unopened, Frankie comes to establish an almost paternal bond with Maggie. Dupris becomes concerned when Frankie rejects several offers for big fights, though, and arranges a meeting for her with Mickey Mack, but she is loyal to Frankie, and is rewarded for her loyalty when he begrudgingly accepts a fight for her against a top-ranked opponent in the UK. He bestows a Gaelic nickname on her, which energizes the crowd, and the two travel Europe as she continues to win. Maggie's own white trash family cares little for her well-being. Maggie saves up enough of her winnings to buy her mother a house, but instead of being grateful, she berates Maggie for endangering her welfare payments and Medicaid benefits. She also belittles her daughter's success in the ring, saying that everyone back home is laughing at her. Frankie is finally willing to arrange a title fight. He secures Maggie a $1 million match in Las Vegas, Nevada against the WBA women's welterweight champion, Billie "The Blue Bear", a German ex-prostitute who has a reputation as a dirty fighter. Overcoming a shaky start, Maggie begins to dominate the fight, but after a round has ended, Billie knocks her out with a sucker punch from behind. Before Frankie can pull the corner stool out of the way, Maggie lands hard on it, breaking her neck and leaving her a quadriplegic. At first, Frankie refuses to accept the bleak prognosis, but dozens of other medical opinions unanimously confirm there is no hope of recovery. He half-heartedly places the responsibility on Scrap for convincing him to train Maggie, but in the end blames himself. In a medical rehabilitation facility, Maggie looks forward to a visit from her family, though Frankie repeatedly calls them with no success. Eventually, the family arrives—but only after first visiting Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood—and with an attorney in tow. Their lone concern is to arrange the transfer of Maggie's assets to them. She sees through their transparent scheme and orders them to leave, threatening to sell the house, which they have not claimed in their name to continue receiving welfare payments, out from under them if they ever show their faces again. Frankie never leaves her side. He reads to her, urges her to go back to school and invites her to come live with him. As the days pass, however, Maggie develops bedsores and undergoes an amputation for an infected leg. She asks a favor of Frankie: to help her die while she can still remember the cheers she heard, saying she got what she most wanted out of life. A horrified Frankie refuses, but seeks the advice of his priest, Father Horvak, whom he has tormented for 23 years. Horvak warns him that euthanasia is a grave sin, and that he will be lost forever if he goes through with it. Maggie bites her tongue repeatedly in an attempt to bleed to death, but the medical staff saves her life each time and takes measures to prevent further suicide attempts. Frankie sneaks in one night. Just before administering a fatal injection of adrenaline, he finally tells Maggie the meaning of a nickname he gave her, Mo Chuisle (spelled incorrectly in the film as "mo cuishle"): Irish for "my darling, and my blood" (literally, "my pulse"). He then disappears for good. Scrap's narration is revealed to be a letter to Frankie's daughter, informing her of her father's true character. =========MY REVIEW Hilary Swank,one of my ever Favorite versatile actress! Along side with 2 of the most well respected and incredible actors Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood! Watching this movie makes me feel like a splurging wave that angrily hits the seashore.At times I feel calm then entertained and on most scenes It makes me feel angry and sad.But despite the death at the end of the movie and the sadness I feel towards Maggie's character,the message is so strong that it doesn't make me feel depressed at all! It's true after all,there's such thing a as beautiful sadness.I can't put it exaclty in words but it's the feeling of being in the state of sadness but it doesn't mean I am depressed.It means I'm wanting to do more and by that I mean I have to strive harder.I don't have that extremely sad feeling that I feel in some other movies.Like sometimes when you watch a certain movie it kinda feel so depressing and that the world doesn't make sense at all specially in love stories.I feel the opposite for this movie.After understanding the story,it kinda gave me this positive message that I have to fight through life no matter what.Though I didn't like the suicide thing called "euthanasia" if on the same position I would probably asked for the same thing specially if there's no hope for me to live again. The movie itself is real,inspiring and well written.Haggis might have done a lot of research for the scripting because even those people on the field of boxing would agree that it's probably how a regular training would go.He wrote it too well that he earned himself credibility to write.Swank said in one of her interviews that the emotions and the scripting is ral and you don't get that much in a lot of movies this days.Most movies would go for the typical happy ending ebut the story in this movie doesn't forge the truth.It is reality hence,the character can feel it and acted it really well.It is not only a movie making money but it also displayed some sort of moral and social responsibility by showing the truth behind boxing and by trying to let us understand some realities in life specially in boxing or whatever sports out there that requires physical combat. This is about life.Dreams.Survival.One may have his own inspiration in life.One may be succesful in just one glimpse while others take longer.It really depends on the depth of being who we are.On where we get our inspirations.Or how inspired or persistent we are in life.As for Maggie,it was her mom.Her family.Not a boyfriend.Not her own desires.Not drugs.She had came all the way so she can get her family something but it didn't go as she has planned.They want her money not her.They don't care about her,they find her choices in life stupid.What could be more painful than this.I think this is really what knocks her down.Apparently I think part of her giving up is her family.They killed her too.It was her choice but come to think of it,her source of strength and inspiration turned their backs on her.What killed her is not the physical but emotional.It left me with one message.While I sat there shocked with her life situation.She reminds me of 2 important things-acceptance and humilty. On the story alone,it is so funny how many times I have cursed her family for being the worst family in the whole wide world.I cursed her family and I wished she should have never bought that house for them.However,I came to realize that it was actually one of the reasons why she's so determined in her fights because she wanted to give something to her family but apparently it didn't go as planned.I think it was the real knock out in her life.It was more painful than the broken nose she got on her first fight.Because physical pain can be cured by a medicine but emotional pain is something that you have to deal with ,on your own.Alone. I never saw the ending coming though.I kinda keep on hoping that maybe she will wake up,get well one day and will have one fight that will change the world's perception.I kinda hope she'll get back the the woman who took her down for revenge.(gosh,my pulse rate got really high! )Turns out that perception and expectation made me stupid.Obviously,the movie went on a different path and it never taught revenge but acceptance and humility.Atleast until the day she died.Usually I don't like when a character in a movie dies I would hate it.But then again,in this movie it kinda feel alright.When confronted with the same situation in real life,I would rather keep the guilt to myself and give her what she asked for.After all,the doctors confirmed themselves that her case is more likely rare to survive. Hilary Swank earned herself not only an Oscars but set her credibility higher again.In her world and proffession as an actress the competition might be too fierced but she managed to take all her roles seriously.And by being serious she go for extensive training just to fit in what the character requires of her.I guess that's one of the major beauty of being a celebrity.You've got to be anything or anybody.You can loose an enermous weight in a week or they can ask you to gain weight in a few days.So it's really a challenge in everything.Not just emotionally but physically.I have seen swank play the lesbian lover in "Boy's don't cry".I have seen her play like a regular woman who fell in love in "New Years Eve".SOmetimes she plays the role of a mother.I mean she is really versatile and she can really play well.It's easy for her to fool us like she's a pro in her role as a boxing but in reality she worked really hard just to make this happen.I guess that would tell a lot about her .it must be really very challenging but that's the thing.They can portray their roles well because for sure to be a celebrity one must be born with natural talents and has the guts to survive.To pursue acting is not the same as choosing a course in college I think.Sometimes when you choose your majorship it depends on the availability of slots or worst,it's your parent's choice.I can't help but admire her skill in acting.I love her. Going back to the story,it is simply a life story of a woman trying to fight life for survival.She came to the gym one day with nothing but determantion and persistence.There's no torrid kissing involve or obsession with the opposite sex.Sporty movies honeslty are my least favorite but I think this movie had opened the gates for me.I'm drawn into it because it's not about boxing alone.I think it's more of her relationship with her family,with people around her.It's about how she managed her self and how she set her goals high.My favorite part is the relationship built between her and Frankie.She might have lose her father but she found a father who truly loved her.Frankie on the other hand might have been estranged from her daughter or whoever that person he is constantly writting for.But atleast,he found one even if it's really short one.A daughter in search of a father's love and an old man in search of his own daughter's.Wasn't that a nice thing that ever happened to both of them?! Turns out,the trainer who refused her the first time has the heart of a compassionate and protective father and you don't get that a lot from a lot of trainers.Usually they will just shoved their boxers on the line just to get the million price.This would explain the hesitation on his part.I think it's not because she's a woman as he said on the earlier part but I think he saw her as a daughter and he is not so sure if he can even managed to watch her every fight.All throughout,I keep thinking of our very own People's Champ Manny Pacqiuao.I began to understand more the sentiments of his wife Jinkee in one of her interviews.She said after every fight,these people who look up to him don't know how much he sufer as an after shock.His urine is sometimes clotted blood.There's no assurance of his health anymore.To which when asked if he wants his kids to be boxers someday,he immediately told them if I can only decide for them,I don't want to at all.He said he has suffered so much to bring them good life so they won't have to suffer just as he did.I wish he would resign sooner.Seeing him fall on his last fight almost made each Filipino cry.As in "kawawa ang itsura nya" a lot would say.Even himself who watched the game after,he said he pittied himself for a moment. After watching this movie.I'm really starting to dislike watching boxing or any sports that requires you physically torture your opponent so you can win.I use to enjoy it but I can't bear the bloody face or the broken rib or nose after the fight.I watched "Cinderella Man" before.And watched every game of Manny.And Now I watched this movie.I'm not so sure if I can watch Manny's next fight without remembering this.I might be but was really hoping people will not patronize such kind of games.Again,it is stupid for me to say this considering they earn billions for just one game but If only given the chance I would rather watch Super Bowl though It is foreign for me rather than watching Boxing,wrestling,karate or other forms of physically induced games.Corny it may sound but true. I think life is like facing a boxing ring each day.For me,I really have to learn where to put my footings and when to punch.I think I also have to learn to always defend my self when enemies attack me.I have to know my game so well so what ever happens,I will FIGHT.All I need is a coach ,a trusted manager and a will to train and train and train.After all,great atheletes have the greatest dicipline in all areas of their lives.As it was narrated on the first part,Boxing is all about dicipline.And I guess it's true.

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